Athirapally Waterfalls are located 1000 feet above sea level at the Chalakudy River in Thrissur district of Kerala. One of the famous tourist attractions in Kerala, the magnificent waterfalls are a sight worth witnessing. This is the biggest waterfall in Kerala. Athirapally falls come down from a height of 80 feet through several parallel streams. In the monsoon season, in its full might, the waterfalls appear like Niagara Falls.
One can reach the top of Athirapally falls in about 15 minutes’ wall. It is blessed with spectacular views of the Sholayar hills and the Western Ghats. The trek down from the top of the waterfalls is about a 10-15 minutes trek. Swimming is possible in the stream as you enjoy the spray of the water. Rainbows are also a common sight. It usually takes 2-3 hours to explore the waterfalls.
The surrounding environs of the waterfalls are a biodiversity hotspot. The river is blessed with 85 species of freshwater fish living in it. The forest is a habitat of different species like the Indian grey hornbill, Malabar pied and grey hornbill, lion-tailed macaque, Asiatic elephant, tiger, leopard, bison, sambar, etc.
The Vazhachal Waterfalls, Charpa Falls, Anakkayam, Sholayar Dam, Valparai, and Malayattur Wildlife Sanctuary near Athirappilly are worth exploring. There are adventure activities like river rafting, trekking, etc. Ahead of Athirappilly Falls, tourists can visit the Malakkappara tea garden near the Tamil Nadu border. A treehouse resort and comfortable tourist accommodations are facing Athirapally waterfall to make the experience all the better. Athirappilly Falls has to be reached with the permits of the Forest Department and the locals of Vana Samrakshana Samithi.
Visual presentation visit: https://youtu.be/i94yLHyw2G4